Sunset at the Zoo, a popular summer event series at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, will return on July 28! Running the fourth Friday of every month from May – September, this event includes evening animal viewings, informative keeper talks, family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and more. Plus, each month features a special theme celebrating a different culture or heritage.
Last week, Orlando Decoded was THRILLED to be invited to attend the June edition of Sunset at the Zoo. Honoring Pride Month, my visit to Sunset at the Zoo was full of LGBTQ-focused vendors, pride-centric activities, and lots of enthusiastic fun promoting inclusion and positivity. I had an amazing time exploring Sunset at the Zoo, and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Thank you, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, for inviting me out!
Now, let’s take a closer look at Sunset at the Zoo!
Sunset at the Zoo
Featuring a wide variety of fun activities as well as evening access to many of the Zoo’s existing animal exhibits; Sunset at the Zoo is an awesome way to spend a Friday night!
Food Trucks
Just outside the Zoo gates, guests can find an assortment of local food trucks offering delicious treats! During my visit, I saw The Knot by Rollin Dough and Churros and Cream.
Live DJ
When you first enter the park, one of the first things you’ll find is a large dance area with a live DJ! Located near the Zoo’s splash pad, families can pull up a chair, enjoy the water, or dance their hearts out.
Vendors
As you walk through the Zoo, you’ll find a variety of vendors educating the public about their respective causes, promoting their serivces, or offering fun giveaway items. All of the event vendors will be related to the specific month’s featured culture or theme. Since I attended during Pride Month, I got to meet with vendors like Zebra Youth, Come Out With Pride, and PFLAG.
Craft Activities
Throughout the Zoo grounds you’ll also find a variety of family-friendly, craft-based activities. For example, June’s Sunset at the Zoo featured a Color-A-Flag Station and a Create-A-Button Table!
Story Time
Hosted in the Central Florida Zoo’s Discovery Courtyard, Sunset at the Zoo also provides periodic story times for families. I got to hear And Tango Makes Three – the true story of a bonded pair of male penguins at the Central Park Zoo.
Keeper Talks
Nighttime hours provide the opportunity for unique keeper talks and animal demonstrations. Make sure you check the posted schedule at the front of the park for the exact offerings during your visit. We got to listen to a keeper talk about caring for the Zoo’s parrots and observe an evening cheetah feeding!
The Next Sunset at the Zoo is July 28!
There are still a few more months to enjoy Sunset at the Zoo! The next event date is July 28 from 5-8pm. Celebrating Black and African American culture, the upcoming Sunset at the Zoo event will include vendors like the Black Health Commission, food trucks like Fully Loaded and Ice Cream Sammies, and the reggae music of Craig Thompson – the leader of Shamanic Roots.
Tickets to Sunset at the Zoo are now available online for $6 per person. Prices will rise to $8 at the gate! Buy your tickets and start planning your fun evening at centralfloridazoo.org. See you at the Zoo!
